Fence paint

I'm a big advocate of black but really needs doing every year
Depends on when they were last painted, I'm sure I used 25l last time I did mine.
I used a brush but takes forever, not sure about the spray guns.

 

Not quite what you're asking for @fat controller but it's different!

 

Darker colours will show up flowers better but not foliage. They will also make your garden look more closed in especially during the gloomy winter months. I think paler colours will give you the best of both worlds. I'm not a lover of green but imagine the paler/duller shades below with plants against them.....better I think.

 

Our fence posts are dark grey and the panels themselves are a silvery/grey ash colour. Looks natural plus reflects a lot of light.


Just Just found this photo........

 

Might that be because they are not recommended for painting?

When I had fencing put in last year (ETA: oops, I meant October 2014 Tempus Fugit ), I asked the man-who-did when should I paint/stain them? I swear he almost keeled over "No! Never!! " was his response.

Dark colours are in vogue now, but, to my mind, fence painting is an "investment" (the cost can soon add up ); so, unless you are wanting to paint your fencing for fashion sake, do consider what will give you a) good light reflection; b) will look good throughout the seasons; c) what you LIKE; d) what may enhance what you will grow against/around it; and finally, e) how often you wish to maintain it

As for application speed: I haven't touched mine (took the advice of the man-who-did), but, a recently moved in neighbour used the spray method - very quick! Now that the frosts have set in, and despite being 3 gardens down ... I spy Mr "Mr Bit" In other words, spray gives the impression of a good coverage, but an old fashioned brushing may give the "depth" of good coverage (if you see what I mean? ).

As for how far a gallon of paint goes: how long is a piece of string? Do you want your gallon to give one coat? A spit? A ruddy good lick? A sashay? Or, a whitewash?

 

Please don't spray your fence panels unless you make sure there are no cars parked on your drive if you have fence panels that butt(sp)up to a drive that is.

Our old next door neighbours put their house up for sale a few years ago and quiet sensibly moved his Range Rover and Lotus from off of his drive before he started spraying the panels.I didn't know that this is what he was intending doing so my car stayed parked on the shared drive over on our side.A few weeks later as I was washing my silver car I noticed minute spots all over the roof and down the drivers side of the car.I thought it was just ingrained dirt and tried really hard to get it off to no avail.On very close inspection I suddenly realised that it wasn't dirt but very fine droplets of fence colourant that had blown through the knot holes and being carried in the wind had stuck themselves to my car

I went straight round and told my neighbour what he had done and he looked gobsmacked and came out to have a look.He was most apologetic and when his wife appeared and she was told she just burst out laughing

My neighbour never offered to try to put the problem right and strictly speaking the car should have been possibly resprayed or some other treatment done to it but I couldn't stand the idea of falling out with the neighbours over this as we have always got on ok and didn't want to live next to someone where the atmosphere was pretty bad so have had to put up with it.Eight years down the line the car is now ten years old and the very tiny spots are still on the car but really are not noticed unless you get right up to the body work.

As an aside,at the bungalow where we used to live fifteen years ago our policeman neighbour had the bright idea of using a garden sprayer to colour all his fence panels down the garden in double quick time,but the spray went through the knot holes again and drifted all over my roses and garden plants which didn't go down well with us at all.Problem is when you point out to the youngsters what they have done they all seem to think it is funny

So please everyone,I know spraying is much quicker but please spare a thought for your neighbours plants and cars,unless you live in the middle of nowhere that is

 

Start with a light colour, as you can go darker but harder to go back the a lighter colour with stains
Also, if it's overlap panels be carefull that the paint or stain don't run on the other side, if you have panels with cememt post you may be able to lift them out to paint/stain
and as Kandy says with spray, also it can happern with rollers as well

 

Dont just treat the visible parts. Either treat all, or none. Thats because the parts in shade will have a tendency to "draw" moisture and rot quicker. Looking to the future, and a possible fence replacement, it will feel better to replace all through rot or whatever, than all when only a portion is rotten!

Regarding paint coverage. Thats difficult to say. Some manufacturers state 6-8 sq. m per litre. The better paints though cover perhaps 1 or 2 sq. m per litre.

The latter paints are best applied using a brush. It goes way faster than a spray gun, as they only need to be "slapped" on. I do agree with the comments regarding spray guns made by @Kandy with a caveat. Modern HVLP guns, used correctly have very little overspray. Like all others though they should only be used on a calm day.

 

The last time I hand painted fence panels a few years ago , I vowed never again ! It is hard work and mind numbingly boring . I had heard that the pump up fence sprays were a little bit iffy. So seeing someone spraying his fences with an electric gun , which he thought was fantastic - I bought this B and D gun ( I work for Stanley so get staff discount ) . I got the Ronseal fence spray able paint from Screwfix . Now I never got to use it this year ! But lent it to my son in law to paint 14 panels both sides and a shed , he thought it was fantastic , taking under two minutes for each panel. Plus the gun was very easy to clean . Take @Kandy advice above when spraying , make sure it is a calm day with no cars near.

Fine Spray System - Hand Held - HVLP200 | BLACK+DECKER
Ronseal Sprayable One-Coat Fence Life Forest Green 5Ltr

 

What colour do they paint your Busses?

 

Red of course shade Pantone 485 c
Don't do anything like Shineys picture with bus stop signs

 

Perfect then! Red is a traditional colour for fences and other wooden structures here.

Pantone or RAL?